El Pasoan David Lujan claims never to have had a flu shot in his life, except in 2009 when the H1N1 type A influenza -- better known as the swine flu -- caused worldwide panic .

"I never had the flu before, so I didn't feel I needed to take the vaccine," the 36-year Eastsider said. "And guess what? That was the one and only time I actually got the flu."

"I don't know what happened," he said. "I'm not a doctor, but my guess is it weakened my immune system. That was the first and the last time I will take it."

REPORTER

Victor Martinez

Dr. Mauro Provencio, an attending physician at Sierra Providence Medical Center East, has heard anecdotes such as this for years.

He has had patients tell him that getting the flu shot has made them even sicker.

"Our bodies react to the vaccine differently," he said. "Yes, you may feel a little soreness, you may even have a little temperature and body aches, but that's to be expected." And that sort of "illness" is easily remedied with a pain reliever, he said.

Flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue as late as May.

In El Paso, 2,902 flu cases had been reported from October through the third week in January, according to the El Paso Department of Public Health.

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"Prevention for the flu is (getting) the flu vaccine every year," Provencio said. "But let's say you don't take the vaccine and you get the flu. The other option is the Tamiflu, but it has to be taken 48 to 72 hours of the onset of the symptoms."

A flu vaccine is needed every year because flu viruses constantly change, and it's not unusual for new flu viruses to appear each year.

"The number one reason people do not take the flu shot is because they say they took it or someone they know took the flu shot and then they got the flu," Provencio said. "That's a myth. You get the flu shot and then later on you might get a cold -- but the vaccine is for the flu, not the common cold."

Most doctors have an in-house flu test that simply requires a swab of the nose to determine whether a person has the flu.

He said there is no vaccine for the common cold.

"People get a cold and they automatically think it's the flu," he said. "That is not true. The flu is caused by a virus, so a virus will not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics are for bacteria."

He said high body temperatures (above 101) and body aches are key symptoms of the flu.

"With a cold, you get nasal congestion and a running nose, chest congestion and a cough, but it's not as severe as a flu," he said.

It's very easy for people to cross the border to obtain medicine without benefit of prescription. That's a practice Provencio strongly discourages.

"You may be allergic to those antibiotics and you might have a really bad reaction to it, you might get diarrhea and have other problems -- so it's not a good idea," he said.

Living on the border also poses another interesting situation. Many of the older generation in the region tend to treat illness the way their great-grandmothers used to, based on traditions and cultural remedies such as herbs and limpias, an ancient spiritual practice said to alleviate suffering by clearing physical, mental, emotional, material and spiritual blocks that torment the soul.

When Provencio was a child, his own family treated him with home remedies.

"When I was a kid, my aunt would iron clothes and put them (warm) on my chest and she swore that it would relieve my fever and congestion, but I don't think it ever worked," he said. "And then my grandma would put Vicks VapoRub on my nose. She didn't know you could get lipoid pneumonia from that because you are breathing in that vapor."

He said there are no studies that show these home remedies can prevent or cure the flu.

"There are also many herb and plant concoctions and supplements people swear by," Provencio said. "These are just hundreds and hundreds of years of home remedies and anecdotal stories. Some people say these remedies can cure diabetes, hypertension, cancer, everything. Again, that's anecdotal. There are no studies that show if they work or don't work."

He said the bottom line is that people should go with what has been medically proved.

"Get the vaccine," he said. "It's not going to give you the flu. It's not going to get you sick. It is going to prevent you from getting the flu.

"If you think you have the flu, go to the doctor and don't self-prescribe. Don't go to Juárez and buy antibiotics. Go to the doctor.

"And if you are sick, don't go to work. Stay home so you don't get everyone else sick."

Victor R. Martinez may be reached at vmartinez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6128. Follow him on Twitter at @vrmart.

Stop spreading itYou can help stop the spread of influenza and other diseases by doing the following things:

If you get sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette to prevent the spread of germs.

Wash your hands regularly.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.

While not a substitute for vaccination, these steps can help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like influenza.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Get the shotThe flu kills about 20,000 people in the United States each year. As of last week, five deaths in El Paso County had been attributed to the influenza virus this flu season. Most were elderly, and all had serious underlying medical conditions.So who should get vaccinated?"Anyone at least 6 months old, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccinations are especially suggested for:"

People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu.

People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease.

Pregnant women.

People 65 and older.

People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications. This includes household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease.